NASA
Where Geography Can Take You:
An Interactive CD-ROM
A project supported by a grant from the Oklahoma Geography Education Fund.
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What is Geography?
Geography deals with similarities and differences in
people and the environment from place to place.
Examples of questions a geographer might ask include:
• Why are prearranged marriages common in many
parts of the world?
• Why are the interiors of continents subject to
extreme climates?
Explaining these kinds of spatial variations is central to
geography.
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Tom Wikle
Alyson Greiner
Geographers are
interested in:
political and
economic systems
landform development
Peter H. Dana
cultures
human impacts on
the environment
maps and map
projections
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Index to Geography and Career Opportunities
Training in geography opens doors to careers in these areas:
Physical Geography
Human Geography
• Biogeography
• Geomorphology
• Hydrology
• Weather & Climate
• Natural Hazards
• Regional Geography
• Cultural Geography
• Historical Geography
• Urban Geography
• Economic Geography
Geotechniques
• Cartography
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Remote Sensing
Resource Management
• Environmental Geography
• Outdoor Recreation Management
Geographic Education
• Geographic Research
• Resources for Educators
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PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Examines the distribution of Earth’s surface
features such as mountain ranges and rivers.
Analyzes the processes that create and shape
landforms.
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Physical Geography
Subdivisions of physical geography include:
•Biogeography
•Geomorphology
•Hydrology
•Weather & Climate
Tom Wikle
•Natural Hazards
Arches National Park, Utah.
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Physical Geography
Career options in physical geography include:
habitat researcher
atmospheric data technician
soil scientist
wildlife ecologist
weather forecaster
Which of these topics interest you?
landforms
vegetation
water
natural hazards
plant specialist
meteorologist
hydrologist
weather
climates
wildlife
climatologist
pharmaceutical researcher
crisis response coordinator
university professor
coastal zone manager
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Physical Geography
BIOGEOGRAPHY
Biogeographers are interested in plant or animal
distributions and their habitats.
A biogeographer might
study the effect of
environmental change
on an ecosystem such as
the Florida Everglades,
shown here.
Alyson Greiner
Alyson Greiner
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Careers suited to biogeographers include:
•habitat researcher
•plant specialist
•wildlife ecologist
•pharmaceutical researcher
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Physical Geography
Geographers at work . . .
. . . as habitat researchers
Biogeographers combine information about an environment
with detailed knowledge of its flora and fauna to understand
habitat requirements of endangered species.
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Physical Geography
GEOMORPHOLOGY
Geomorphologists work to
explain the origin and
development of landforms.
Alyson Greiner
Careers suited to geomorphologists
include:
•coastal zone manager
•soil scientist
•university professor
Erosion and fracturing are two of the processes that have shaped this
giant granite boulder.
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Physical Geography
Geographers at work . . .
Alyson Greiner
. . . as coastal zone managers
Geomorphologists knowledgeable about beach erosion manage the
development and protection of coastal zones such as this section of
beach near La Jolla, California.
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Physical Geography
A Geographer’s
Testimonial . . .
Jennifer Spencer
Richard Marston
B.A., M.S., Ph.D. Geography
Professor and Sun Chair, School of Geology
Oklahoma State University
“Geography plays an important part in my day-to-day work because
scientists and policy makers have come to realize that most environmental
problems require training, experience, and expertise that deal with both
humans . . . and natural systems, and how they interact with each other.”
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Physical Geography
Geographers at work . . .
. . . as hydrologists
Alyson Greiner
Hydrologists monitor water sources
and movement on and below the
surface of the earth.
Niagra Falls, Canada.
Hydrologists doing field
work measure stream flow
in Washington State near
Mount St. Helens.
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Physical Geography
Biogeography, Geomorphology, Hydrology
Related Web Links
•NASA Destination: Earth
•NASA: Hydrological Sciences Branch
•Canada National Water Research Institute
•Landscape Ecology & Biogeography
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Physical Geography
WEATHER & CLIMATE
Lightning
Training in geography provides good
preparation for work related to the global
patterns of weather and climate.
Mammatus clouds
Careers suited to physical
geographers interested in
weather and climate include:
•meteorologist
•climatologist
•weather forecaster
•atmospheric data technician
All photos courtesy:
NOAA Photo Library,
NOAA Central Library
Large hailstones
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Physical Geography
Weather & Climate
Related Web Links
•National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
•National Weather Service
•National Aeronautic and Space Administration
•The National Center for Atmospheric Research
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Physical Geography
NATURAL HAZARDS
Some physical geographers study natural disasters in
order to understand why and where they occur.
NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library
Careers suited to specialists in
natural hazards include:
•emergency route planner
•crisis response coordinator
•risk assessor
•severe storm analyst
A tornado south of Dimmitt, Texas in June, 1995.
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Physical Geography
Natural hazards include:
Earthquakes
Damage to Highway 247 in southern California caused by
the Landers earthquake on June 28, 1992.
NOAA
SC/EC Data Center
Hurricanes
Hurricane Bret moves into the coastal bend of
Texas on August 22, 1999.
Droughts and Fires
The eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980.
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Alyson Greiner
NASA Image eXchange
Volcanic Eruptions
Fire in Queensland, Australia, 1999.
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Physical Geography
Geographers at work . . .
Alyson Greiner
. . . as risk assessors
Flooding in central Missouri.
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Insurance companies employ risk
assesors to determine if properties
are within floodplains or are likely
to sustain damage in the event of
severe weather.
A tornado-damaged tree.
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Physical Geography
Natural Hazards
Related Web Links
•NOAA: Hurricanes - The Greatest Storms On Earth
•National Disaster Reference Database
•United States Geological Survey
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RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Involves monitoring direct and indirect
impacts of people on the environment.
Includes developing and implementing plans
and programs to conserve or protect natural
resources.
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Resource Management
Tom Wikle
Subdivisions of resource management include:
Tom Wikle
Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
•Outdoor Recreation Management
Kamaoa Wind Farm, South Point, Hawaii.
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•Environmental Geography
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Resource Management
Career options in resource management include:
pollution control consultant
forester
water quality manager
Which of these topics interest you?
ecotourism
park ranger
ecotourism planner
resource conservation
state and national parks
environmental lawyer
recycling coordinator
outdoor interpretive guide
soil conservation specialist
solid waste management planner
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Resource Management
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY
Environmental geographers monitor problems caused by the impact
of human activities. They also develop solutions to these problems.
Careers suited to environmental
geographers include:
Tom Wikle
•pollution control consultant
•water quality manager
•recycling coordinator
•environmental lawyer
•solid waste management planner
Heavy pollution in northern Spain.
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Resource Management
Geographers at work . . .
. . . as environmental lawyers
Alyson Greiner
Environmental Lawyers:
•settle disputes concerning the
use of natural resources
•interpret laws such as the
Endangered Species Act
•need training in both
geography and legal affairs
County courthouse, Shelbyville, Tennessee.
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Resource Management
Environmental Agencies
Related Web Links
•Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
•The Nature Conservancy
•Environmental Defense Fund
•Worldwatch Institute
•World Resources Institute
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Resource Management
OUTDOOR RECREATION MANAGEMENT
The Perry-Castañeda Library Collection at The University of Texas at Austin
Managing outdoor recreation areas
involves knowing the environmental
history and human use of an area.
Today outdoor recreation management
often incorporates principles of ecotourism,
such as minimizing the ecological impact
of tourists.
Careers suited to outdoor recreation
managers include:
•park ranger
•forester
•soil conservation specialist
•outdoor interpretive guide
•ecotourism planner
Located in southwestern Montana, Big Hole National
Battlefield serves as a memorial to those who lost
their lives during the Nez Perce War of 1877.
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Resource Management
A Geographer’s
Testimonial . . .
Jennifer Spencer
Ron Parker
B.S. Geography
Chief of Resource Management
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
“The big picture that geography painted in my undergraduate
education . . . laid a foundation that steered me to my graduate
education in parks and outdoor recreation.”
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Resource Management
Resource Management
Related Web Links
•The National Park Service
•United Nations Industrial Development
Organization
•The International Institute for Sustainable
Development
•Ecotourism Explorer
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HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Seeks to understand and explain the distribution
of human activities around the world.
Examines the relationships between people and
their environment.
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Subdivisions of human geography include:
•Regional/Cultural Geography
•Historical Geography
•Urban Geography
•Economic Geography
Top: Austin, Texas. (photo by Alyson Greiner)
Bottom Right: Skyline of Manhattan.
Bottom Left: Telephone booths in Great Britain.
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Career options in human geography include:
international business representative
diplomat
transportation coordinator
city/regional planner
political analyst
Which of these topics interest you?
travel consultant
health and health care
people
politics
cities
location analyst
map librarian
economies
places
history
market researcher
area specialist
historic preservationist
sales representative
cultural resource manager
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medical geographer
zoning official
museum director
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Human Geography
REGIONAL/CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY
What environmental characteristics and cultural practices
give personality or identity to different places?
Terry Jordan
In parts of Thailand and Myanmar (Burma) women
wear neck rings as a sign of status or wealth.
An aerial view of the pattern of settlement in
East Tennessee.
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Careers suited to regional/
cultural geographers include:
•area specialist
•international business representative
•medical geographer
•travel consultant
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Human Geography
Geographers at work . . .
. . . as area specialists
Alyson Greiner
Area specialists have a thorough
understanding of the ethnic
composition, political system, and
economy of a country or region.
Tom Wikle
Taos Pueblo in northern New Mexico.
The floating market in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Human Geography
A Geographer’s
Testimonial . . .
Jennifer Spencer
David Peters
Former Peace Corps Volunteer to
Sierra Leone
Senior Library Technical Assistant
“The social sciences help an individual learn skills needed to
deal with people, to problem solve and to work in groups . . .”
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Human Geography
Geographers at work . . .
. . . as international business representatives
•Corporations employ regional
and cultural geographers to
provide specialized information
about countries where they
conduct business.
Jennifer Spencer
•International exchange and study
abroad programs provide an
excellent way to learn about a
foreign country in preparation for
a career in international business.
A student from South Africa (right) schedules her geography classes.
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Human Geography
Geographers at work . . .
. . . as medical geographers
What causes differences in people’s
health from one country to another?
If you live in a small town or rural
area, how might your access to a
hospital or clinic differ from someone
who lives in a city?
Medical geographers answer these
types of questions, and are typically
interested in medicine, biology, lab
work, and field work.
All photos courtesy:
NASA Image eXchange
The geographical study of disease includes identifying where a disease
originates as well as how and where it spreads. This information can
be used in the search for cures. The pictures above show different
aspects of research on malaria.
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Human Geography
Regional/Cultural Geography
Related Web Links
•UN World Health Organization
•Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
•U.S. State Department
•The World Bank
•The Red Cross
•The Peace Corps
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Human Geography
HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY
Alyson Greiner
•How do places change over time?
•What forces shape the
evolution of landscapes?
Granary Burial Ground in Boston, Massachusetts.
Careers suited to historical
geographers include:
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Alyson Greiner
•historic preservationist
•political analyst/diplomat
•cultural resource manager
•museum exhibit consultant
An old threshing machine; the precursor to the modern combine.
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Human Geography
Geographers at work . . .
. . . as diplomats
International diplomacy makes use of the expertise of historical geographers
who can explain ethnic and political conflicts, and can help negotiate treaties.
Diplomats require strong skills in geography, history, and political science. It
is not unusual for diplomats to learn a foreign language as well.
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Human Geography
A Geographer’s
Testimonial . . .
Alyson Greiner
Jim Gabbert
B.S. Geography
Architectural Historian
Oklahoma Historical Society
“Be interdisciplinary in your studies . . . [for example]
applied geographers need a background in cultural
geography and vice versa. It brings a different thought
process to your work and to your studies.”
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Human Geography
URBAN GEOGRAPHY
Alyson Greiner
Careers suited to urban
geographers include:
•city planner
•zoning official
•transportation coordinator
•chamber of commerce director
•How do cities organize their space?
•Where do shopping areas and
neighborhoods develop?
•What services should cities provide
surrounding areas?
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The city of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia.
Chicago’s “spaghetti bowl” intersection.
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Human Geography
Geographers at work . . .
. . . as planners
Alyson Greiner
Designing our surroundings to suit human needs
and preferences lies at the core of planning.
City and regional planners determine locations of transportation routes, businesses, residences, parks,
and even rest areas like this one on Interstate 81 near the Virginia-Tennessee border.
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Human Geography
A Geographer’s
Testimonial . . .
Jennifer Spencer
Bryan Brown
M.S. Geography
City Planner
City of Stillwater, Oklahoma
“[Geography] was instrumental in opening the field of planning
as a possibility. By taking courses which were directly tied to
urban planning I was able to . . . land my first planning job.”
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Human Geography
Urban & Regional Planning
Related Web Links
•Cities and Urban Geography at MiningCo
•Department of Housing and Urban Development
•Arcosanti - A New Sustainable Community in
Arizona
•CUBE - Center for Understanding the Built
Environment
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Human Geography
ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
Alyson Greiner
What is the best location for an oil
refinery, restaurant, or shopping center?
Alyson Greiner
Chutes like this one in Australia load coal on trains.
What networks and facilities
enable the distribution of goods
from place to place?
An oil refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas.
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Human Geography
ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
Careers suited to economic
geographers include:
•location analyst
•international business consultant
•real estate agent or appraiser
Alyson Greiner
•market researcher/regional sales representative
Alyson Greiner
Because no two places are the same, realtors
need a keen understanding of the local geography
and market in which they work.
The Mexico-U.S. border between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso.
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Human Geography
Geographers at work . . .
. . . as location analysts
Alyson Greiner
Location, location, location . . . the three
most important words to a business.
How might a location such as this affect the value of the property?
Alyson Greiner
Geographers are trained to think
spatially, giving them an edge in
understanding factors that make a
location advantageous.
How do accessibility and visibility affect the
qualities of a site?
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Human Geography
A Geographer’s
Testimonial . . .
Jennifer Spencer
Tom Daxon
B.S. Geography
Secretary of Finance & Revenue
State of Oklahoma
“It’s difficult to find a field where geography does
not play a role . . . almost any field that someone is
going to go into will have a locational aspect to it.”
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Human Geography
Geographers at work . . .
. . . as market researchers or regional sales representatives
Alyson Greiner
The same product may not sell
very well in different places or
markets. This is why businesses
need to know the local geography.
Alyson Greiner
Third Street Promenade in Los Angeles, California.
Signs in Korean and Chinese reveal the presence of
different ethnic groups in Annandale, Virginia.
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Human Geography
A Geographer’s
Testimonial . . .
Jennifer Spencer
David Goughner
B.S. and M.S. Geography
Sales Representative
SST Development Group, Inc.
“In my day-to-day work, statistics are important, the relationship
of statistics to spatial data is essential . . . much of the classwork I
had in geography was very influential in that respect . . . ”
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GEOTECHNIQUES
Applies geographic tools and methods to
improve our understanding of the earth.
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Involves the use of maps, aerial photographs,
satellite images, the global positioning system
(GPS), and sophisticated computer software.
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Subdivisions of geotechniques include:
•Cartography
•Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
•Global Positioning System (GPS)
Andy Maxey
•Remote Sensing
A GPS receiver uses data from satellites to establish
location.
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Career options in geotechniques include:
computer mapping software developer
GIS manager
Which of these topics interest you?
GIS analyst
satellite images
cartographer
graphic design
aerial photos
map interpreter
spatial data collection
field surveyor
aerial photo analyst
GIS software developer
remote sensing technician
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Geotechniques
CARTOGRAPHY
Cartographers are trained in the art, science, and technology of creating
maps. They need to understand the rules for making maps as well as
how maps communicate information.
Careers suited to cartographers include:
•map curator
•cartographic designer
•computer mapping technician
•map projection specialist
The history of cartography tracks changes in our knowledge
of geography. Compare this map of Southeast Asia to a
present day map of the same area.
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Geotechniques
Geographers at work . . .
. . . as cartographers
Cartographers create maps
with a variety of tools including
computers and mapping software.
Top: A cartographer at his computer.
Center: Working at a light table.
Bottom: Digitizing a map.
Photos by Jennifer Spencer
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Geotechniques
Cartography
Related Web Links
•USGS National Mapping Information Service
•The WWWVL Cartography Resources
•Society of Cartographers
•Map Projection Home Page
•Library of Congress Geography and Map
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Geotechniques
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
A geographic information system can be thought of as an intelligent mapping
system that allows overlay and analysis of different kinds of geographic features
such as roads, rivers, soil types, and political boundaries. A GIS is useful for
uncovering previously unknown relationships between these data layers.
Jennifer Spencer
Careers suited to GIS specialists include:
•city GIS manager
•spatial data analyst
•GIS software developer
•natural resource GIS specialist
A GIS technician works with a map of ecoregions.
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Geotechniques
A Geographer’s
Testimonial . . .
Jennifer Spencer
Julie Adams
B.S. Geography
GIS Analyst
Natural Resource Conservation Service
“Geography applies to many areas of our daily lives
which gives the subject a scientific yet human appeal.”
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Geotechniques
Geographers at work . . .
Jennifer Spencer
. . . improving production through precision agriculture
GIS is helping to make
agricultural production more
efficient. Farmers can use
satellite and field data to
determine when, where, and
in what quantities to apply
insecticides, herbicides, and
fertilizers.
Farm machinery can be equipped with GPS receivers and GIS maps that
allow specific control of the application of fertilizers.
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Geotechniques
Geographic Information Systems
Related Web Links
•GIS and the Geographer’s Craft
•USGS Geographic Information Systems
•Precision Agriculture Initiative
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Geotechniques
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
GPS receivers determine locations
using radio signals transmitted by
Earth-orbiting satellites.
Dale Lightfoot
Field researchers use GPS receivers
to record the location of study sites,
and later to navigate back to these
sites.
A geographer uses a GPS unit to establish the location of a
research site.
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Geotechniques
Geographers at work . . .
. . . using the Global Positioning System
Geographers use GPS receivers
to map Earth phenomena such
as wildlife habitats and highway
routes.
For example, a biogeographer
can use GPS to track animals
equipped with radio collars to
follow location and movement.
Copyright © 1998 Peter H. Dana.
The GPS constellation of 24 Earth-orbiting satellites.
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Geotechniques
REMOTE SENSING
Remote sensing focuses on the
collection and analysis of information
about the earth using satellites or
NASA Image eXchange
aircraft-mounted sensors or cameras.
Examples of remote sensing
applications include:
Satellite image of the San Francisco Bay area, 1995.
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•analyzing land use changes in an
urban area
•measuring differences in sea
surface temperatures caused by El
Niño
•identifying areas threatened by
pine beetle infestation
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Geotechniques
NASA Image eXchange
REMOTE SENSING
A thermal image of the same area created by sensors measuring energy
radiated from objects on the earth’s surface.
A natural color image of the Marple Fire in California in 1996.
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Geotechniques
Geographers at work . . .
. . . as remote sensing analysts
Jennifer Spencer
Geographers specializing in
remote sensing may work in
private industry or for a
government agency such as
NASA or the U.S. Forest
Service.
An analyst uses a stereoscope to view surface features shown on aerial
photographs in three dimensions.
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Geotechniques
Remote Sensing
Related Web Links
•NASA: Commercial Remote Sensing Program
•Aerial Photography and Remote Sensing
•American Society for Photogrammetry & Remote
Sensing
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GEOGRAPHIC EDUCATION
Geography comes alive in the classroom when
instructors provide first-hand knowledge about a place,
region, or cultural group they have studied intensively.
Educators trained in geography can teach at the elementary,
secondary, or college level.
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Geographic Education
A Geographer’s
Testimonial . . .
John Beam
Eric Christian
B.S. and M.S. Geography
Geography Instructor
Illinois Central College
“The favorite part of my job is sparking the interest
in the student, [whether it is] in the classroom or
outside the classroom.”
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Geographic Education
Geographers at work . . .
. . . studying sports
Sport geographers study regional
patterns related to participation in
athletic activities.
Fansheds of Southeastern Universities
Questions a sport geographer
might ask include:
Allen Finchum
N
Do you root for any of these teams? What fanshed do you live in?
• Why does the Deep South outrank
other areas in the production of
National Football League players?
• Why is field hockey more prevalent in
the Northeast?
• How has soccer become popular in
places as distant as Brazil, Italy,
Nigeria, and China?
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Geographic Education
Geographers at work . . .
. . . studying music
•Geographers who study music are
interested in the origins and
diffusion of music styles.
•Music geographers also seek to
understand how music is tied to
place.
What places do you associate
with these types of music?
zydeco, reggae, jazz,
bluegrass, grunge
Traditional and modern forms of music.
The top picture shows a didjeridoo, an
instrument closely associated with the
Aboriginal people of Australia.
Top photo by Alyson Greiner
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Geographic Education
Geographers at work . . .
. . . studying belief systems
Religion has many geographic
dimensions including:
Alyson Greiner
•how religions spread or remain
confined to a particular area
•sacred places
•patterns of pilgrimage
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•how different religions influence
diet, architecture, and burial
practices
A Protestant church in Texas, and a statue of Buddha at the Nan Tien
Temple, Australia.
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Geographic Education
Geographers at work . . .
. . . supporting the Geographic Alliance Network
The National Geographic Society’s
Geography Education Program
supports the Geographic Alliance
Network.
Alyson Greiner
Each state now has a Geographic
Alliance with the goal of improving
geography education.
The Alliances provide teacher training
workshops as well as materials for
curriculum development.
A geographer at the Missouri Geographic Alliance Office in
Columbia, Missouri.
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A Geographer’s
Testimonial . . .
Geographic Education
Jennifer Spencer
Amy Ellingson
Geography Major
Bellingham, Washington
“As a major, geography provides many possibilities that extend
beyond just knowing names and places. Geography is a spatial
science allowing one to incorporate it into just about any interest.”
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Geographic Education
Resources for Educators
Related Web Links
•National Geographic Society Geography Education
•Association of American Geographers
•National Council for Geographic Education
•Priority Academic Student Skills
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For additional copies of this CD-ROM
please contact:
CD-ROM Careers Project
Department of Geography
Oklahoma State University
225 Scott Hall
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: (405) 744-6250
FAX: (405) 744-5620
Email: osugeog@okstate.edu
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Credits
Design: Jennifer Spencer and Dr. Alyson Greiner
Project directors: Dr. Alyson Greiner and Dr. Tom Wikle
Acknowledgments:
Special thanks to:
Testimonies:
Consultants:
Dr. Jon Comer
Dr. Dale Lightfoot
Julie Adams
Bill Amburn
Pete Earls
Stephen O’Connell
Bryan Brown
Gerald Crawford
Darla Fagan
LeAnn Prater
Eric Christian
Jeannie Sisson
Dr. Allen Finchum Dr. Carolyn Prorok
Tom Daxon
Jennifer Sartorius
Greg Hakman
Susan Shaull
Amy Ellingson
Larry Vandiver
Scott Heffner
Nothile Shongwe
Jim Gabbert
Jenni McCanne
Dawn Sowinski
David Goughner
Dr. Mike Myers
Melody Tipton
Dr. Richard Marston
Mike Larson
David Ulrich
Ron Parker
David Peters
Unattributed images appearing in slides 3, 5, 6, 22, 23, 32, 33, 34, 36, 43, 55,
56, 59, 72, 73, 76 were obtained from IMSI’s Masterclips® and
MasterPhotos™ Premium Image Collection, 1990-1998.
This project was supported by a grant from the Oklahoma Geography
Education Fund and National Geographic Society. The Department of
Geography at Oklahoma State University provided necessary equipment and
office space.
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